Romy Bowers credits the Advanced Management Program (AMP) with helping her successfully make the transition from senior executive to president and CEO at Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation. We spoke with Romy about how the program helped her prepare for the CEO competition, develop a unique vision for leading the company forward through change, and create a network of CEOs around the world who can help women break through barriers.
When you attended the Advanced Management Program (AMP), where were you in your career?
Prior to AMP, I was a senior executive. My company was going through the process of CEO succession, and I was on a short list of internal candidates. Once I started the program, I realized what a huge benefit it would be for me as I prepared for the CEO competition. I found that all the things that were taught in AMP helped me take that next big step in my career.
How did AMP help you get to where you are in your career today?
AMP helped me think about what kind of a CEO I wanted to be. I had been with my company for a long time, but I needed to articulate the unique aspect of my vision for leading the company forward over the next five years. AMP gave me the time to think through what was authentic to me as a leader and how I could make sure that, in developing my own philosophy of leadership and my vision for the company, I married my authenticity with best practices that we learned through the personal case and from the experiences of other CEOs around the world.
Looking back, what aspects of AMP have been the most useful to you?
I was so impressed with the caliber of teaching within AMP. Regardless of the subject, I found the professors extremely engaging and the cases really fascinating. But what I found most valuable was how the professors presented each case from different angles—and how my fellow peers expanded on those ideas by relating their life experiences to the case. It magnified the learnings for me on so many levels.
How did AMP change the way you lead at work?
AMP encouraged me to be much more strategic and to think about the unique value proposition of my company. How can we be leaders in managing and getting ahead of change, in adding value to the housing sector in Canada, and in addressing the challenging housing needs of Canadians?
Can you talk about the importance of the network and friendships you made through the program? Do you still stay in touch with your classmates?
The network and friendships I made throughout the program have been truly life-changing. It's rare at this stage of my life and career to have the opportunity to meet so many amazing people at one time. Our class has been very good at keeping in touch online, and we've deepened the friendships that we established in AMP.The AMP network has been invaluable as I've transitioned to the CEO role. I have 170 new, influential friends around the world that I can call on for advice, moral support, and guidance as I manage my transition from being a senior executive to CEO. That's probably the biggest benefit of the program for me.
In your opinion, why is it important that women business leaders attend AMP, and what value does it bring?
Sometimes women don't ask for those kinds of opportunities, and it's amazing that AMP is actively encouraging women to participate. It creates opportunities for women to take time out of their careers and engage in professional development, and that's important and necessary in order for women to play a more active role as senior executives. Women have come a long way in terms of becoming more prominent in the business world, but we have a long way to go. AMP helps women break through that glass ceiling that still exists in many industries.I am very fortunate that my boss, at the time, encouraged me to attend AMP. It was worth taking time out of my busy schedule and away from my family to invest in my professional development, my strategic thinking skills, and my ability to establish a network with leaders around the world. AMP was an important growth opportunity for me.
What advice would you give to other women executives thinking about applying to AMP? What makes it the "right time"?
In my experience, AMP offers a lot of flexibility and diversity. Within my class, there was a group of about 25 women at different stages in their personal lives, in different roles, in different industries, and at different points in their careers.There's never any "right time," so my advice is to just do it. Even though you think it may be difficult to make time for a program like AMP, it's well worth the investment and time. In fact, attending AMP was one of the highlights of the things that I’ve done in the last ten years.